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Crossing the divide: Ford and Holden defectors

We often associate certain drivers with a particular manufacturer – Brock with Holden, Johnson with Ford, Perkins with Holden, Moffat with Ford etc, etc.

But in actual fact, most of the greats have crossed the manufacturer divide and driven for both Ford and Holden.

V8X Supercar Magazine issue #92, a special Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore edition, takes a look back at the most-notable defectors between the Blue Oval and the General.

V8X Supercar Magazine issue #92 is on sale now in stores with the digital edition available in the official V8X app (in the App Store and Google Play), online at DigitalEdition.V8XMagazine.com.au and in the Magzter app store.

Holden's greatest hero Peter Brock, for example, did the unthinkable and drove for other manufacturers following his split with the Holden Dealer Team, including a two-year stint in a Ford Sierra RS500.

He even teamed up with long-time Ford adversary Allan Moffat, who signing on with former rival the Holden Dealer Team for the Sandown 400 in 1980 and teamed with Brock for selected international events and Bathurst in 1986.

Ford legend Dick Johnson started his career in a Holden FJ at Lakeside International Raceway, progressing into a Torana for his Australian Touring Car Championship debut in 1970 and Mount Panorama debut in 1973. He even made a one-off appearance for the Holden Dealer Team in 1974.

Johnson teamed with Holden stalwart Perkins in a Ford Mustang at Sandown and Bathurst in 1985, for Perkins' only drives with the Blue Oval.

In the modern era, Craig Lowndes shocked the establishment with a spell in Fords. Lowndes, with the support of Ford Australia, left the Holden Racing Team and switched to Gibson Motorsport in 2001 for what would be a nine-year stint in Falcons, including a spell at Ford Performance Racing before moving to Triple Eight.

It wasn't until 2010 and Triple Eight's decision to run Holdens that saw Lowndes and his teammate Jamie Whincup return to the General.

Read more on these defections and more in V8X Supercar Magazine issue #92, on sale now!